It has been a few months since I have posted a quarterly or yearly farm update. Read the CG Heartbeats Farm 2023 update. Our kidding season was a success, but we hatched less chicks than previous years to allow space to focus on structure and the Nigerian dwarf dairy goats.
Table of Contents
CG Heartbeats Farm Livestock 2023 Livestock Update
Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats
Kidding season
CG Heartbeats Farm kidding season began the end of January 2023 and ended April 19, 2023. We were blessed with a large percentage of doelings for which I am thankful. 3 does needed my assistance presenting kids with heads bent back to the side blocking delivery. One kid struggled due to dystocia (head bent back) and died. Another kid, while I was present, I did not assist the birth, struggled to breathe and had no sucking reflex for a while. Her story, the process of saving her, deserves a blog post all its own or perhaps included in a post recapping the 2023 kidding season.
Milk Testing
Milk testing deserves a post all of its own once I have completed the entire season and all does are dry. From the actual testing process, learning the paperwork and how to read a report, the process challenged me a few times. Receiving the reports though provided interesting information on milk fat and protein percentages. Learning about SSC numbers helped me understand if a goat might be at risk for mastitis.
Sale page
A part of raising goats includes selling and finding homes for goats. Not just any old home but a place providing a good fit between a person’s goals and the capabilities of an animal. I think this goes for any livestock a farm produces. The current sales page is under construction.
Breeding list/reservation list
In an effort to share details to prospective buyers a common practice includes creating breeding reservation lists These serve to showcase pairings between a buck and a doe, highlighting genetics, milk testing results (DHIR), show records and LA or Linear Appraisal scores. Here you will find possible appearance characteristics such as blue eyes, polled, or moon spots. Breeding lists become a record of kids born over a particular breeding season. I plan to create a 2024 list in December.
Great Pyrenees
Louis and his first year
Louis, a male GP who came with registration papers and breeding rights, came to live with us on December 27, 2022. He has a completely different personality than Aneta and it has been a year of learning for me. Of course, the fact one is male, and the other is female may play a part in their differences as well. One difference Louis doesn’t bark much. Aneta was barking as a young pup, especially when the coyotes howled.
He has mastered the command to sit. I believe I need to move on to teaching additional commands. He does respond to the word No also.
Aneta
Aneta has been living with the Nigerian Dwarf bucks for over a year now. I have observed her watching the sky and barking when big birds fly overhead. I appreciate the value she brings in protecting the livestock. But also, the special bond I have with her. To date she stays with the goats and does not get out unless they do. Then she gets out with them.
Dog food changes
A change we made this year was to switch from Alpo to Diamond Naturals. When we purchased Aneta Alpo was what the breeder was feeding her dogs, so we went with what she said without a lot of research. Truthfully Aneta never really ate the Alpo very well.
The farm we purchased Louis from highly recommended Diamond Naturals. He was eating the puppy version and so we wanted to continue feeding him the same diet. I wanted to try Aneta on this brand also. Turns out she eats the Diamond Natural brand so much better. While Diamond Natural is a bit more expensive. Both dogs clean up their food right away. Aneta wasted so much of the Alpo and looking back I wonder if she would have grown taller on a different food. Louis is a much larger dog at one year than Aneta is at almost 4 years.
Chickens
Swedish Flower Hens
I did not hatch as many birds this year. Much of my time, energy and resources has revolved around the goats although not all. One of the chicks hatched out from pen #1 has turned into a beautiful rooster who will be joining Swedish Flower Hen pen #1 to replace his father. The 4 hens in pen # 1 are 7.5 years old and I hope to hatch another group of eggs from them when they start laying again.
Lemon Flowers
These lovely birds are hanging out and I hope to hatch some of their eggs as they start laying again.
Silver Gray Dorkings
I unfortunately lost my Silver Gray Dorking roosters in 2022. Until I get more, I will not be hatching eggs. I am really excited about this one SGD hen I have. She has gone broody a second time this year. The first time she hatched and raised Swedish Flower Hen chicks for me. She has run of the barn and outdoors as she chooses. She takes care of herself and is savey when outside moving rapidly and with an awareness of predators. I would take more like her any day. Oh, and her eggs are some of the largest I have seen Silver Gray Dorkings lay.
CG Heartbeats Farm 2023 Garden update
My garden produce was hit and miss as to volume and quality for 2023. The exception being the garlic, the garlic did fairly well. Some of it even exceeded previous years quality and size. I continue to learn something new every year I grow garlic, and this was no different.
Garlic
I tried a couple new strategies for growing garlic this past season. I updated the blog post on Garlic and sharing the changes I made. Click below.
Tomatoes
For 2023 I purchased heirloom varieties of tomatoes instead of starting from my own seeds. I did not care for the flavor as much but appreciate the meaty, less juicy substance.
Potatoes
I ordered organic seed potatoes from Keene garlic this past spring and whoile they arrived in Apring I did not plant them until the 3rd week in June. The weeds got a foothold before I got to them and some of the potatoes did not produce plants or if they did they were small.
I was able to harvest in October and have immensely enjoyed delicious fresh potatoes. My favorite way to cook them is wash and cut them up cooking them in water on the stove, served with butter and salt. YUM!
Sunflowers
I planted Sunflowers from seeds collected from last year’s crop raised here at CG Heartbeats Farm. Most of the seeds sprouted and produced decent sized heads. The plants were left on their own as I really did nothing with them this year. I did not get to weed them or water them and yet they produced. Grateful for the harvest, I picked out a couple heads to save for next year’s crop and the rest will be fed the goats as treats on their grain. Sunflowers are becoming a staple here and I plan to plant next year and in greater abundance.
Sorghum
Growing Sorghum make me happy. The heads of grain are beautiful waving about in the breezes. A goal of mine is to learn the art of making brooms and have saved enough to make several, whisk brooms and/or regular brooms. Watching videos, I have seen one can get really fancy with crafting a broom.
Sweet corn
I planted a heritage variety of sweet corn this year. It did not produce very well, but I did not keep it watered and that may have been a deciding factor. The chickens got a few ears as a treat.
Glass gem popcorn
I planted the Glass Gem Popcorn in an area of the garden that hasn’t produced as abundantly the last 2 years. Too dry? Needs fertilized? Not for sure, but I plan to add compost in this area for 2024.
Peppers
Because I was so late in planting, I picked up 3 heritage varieties of peppers from a local greenhouse instead of starting my own from seed. They did produce some peppers for me and I kept them watered but I did not get a huge harvest. I am convinced it is because I planted them so late.
Lincoln Peas
In 2023 I planted peas in April an improvement over the last 2 years. The seeds sprouted and grew well. After they were blooming and producing the plants started turning yellow and dying. I am not sure the cause despite a bit of internet research. Possibly too much water or lack of a nutrient. None the less I enjoyed pea salad and eating directly out of the garden. I also have seeds set aside for next year.
Onions
I planted Candy and a yellow variety onion starts in April ordered from Keene Garlic. They did well this year and I finished up harvesting in September. We are still enjoying them.
Zucchini
I had a few Zucchini to eat. Enough to be satisfied for this season but they did not produce super well. Perhaps the location I planted them in or the late start? I did not plant them until the end of May
In summery my garden had a late start this year and likely influenced the lower production. I am ok it because a part of the reason I was so late was my trip out to be present for my oldest niece’s graduation from high school. At this point in life I understand I can not do it all and need to pick my priorities.
CG Heartbeats Farm 2023 Farm structure update
Refurnishing Chicken Tractors
We have had 2 grow out tractors here for a few years and used them as pens inside of the barns. We purchased from a FB marketplace listing a few years ago. I enlisted the help of the neighbor boys to refurnish them with metal and other materials we provided. They may have had a bit of help from their dad, but they did a fine job. They are 4 brothers, 14 and younger. It is good to invest in future generations. I was happy to compensate them for their time and effort!
Fencing
Planning and constructing goat fence continue as an ongoing project and the horse pasture fences are in dire need of maintenance and updating.
Materials Acquired
We were able to purchase used fence panels and were gifted other materials over the last few months. Some are already put to use, and others need some modification.
No doubt I am leaving out other CG Heartbeats Farm updates for the first 11 months of the year. These are the ones standing out to me.
Questions?
Are there topics I mention in this CG Heartbeats farm 2023 update you would like more information on? Leave a reply or send me an email at cgheartbeatsfarm@gmail.com
